Thread: 4 Canadian soldiers killed in Afganistan

I hate days like this......

http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/A...soldier_060422

Four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff

Four Canadian soldiers have been killed in an attack in the Gumbad region of Afghanistan.

The men were travelling in a G-wagon about 75 kilometres north of Kandahar when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device at about 7:30 a.m. local time, said CTV's Sarah Galashan, reporting from Kandahar.

Three of the men were killed instantly. The fourth was airlifted to hospital but died before he arrived.

Three of the men have been identified as Cpl. Matthew Dinning, Bombardier Myles Mansell, and Lieut. William Turner.

Dinning was born in Richmond Hill, Ont., and was stationed in Petawawa, Marshall was born in Victoria B.C. where he was also stationed, and Turner was from Toronto but was stationed in Edmonton.

At the request of family the military has not released the identity of the fourth victim.

The men were part of a mixed convoy of light armoured vehicles and G-wagons returning to Kandahar from Gumbad, where they had been stationed at a small outpost established in February, Galashan said.

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser held a press conference Saturday morning. He said he knew two of the soldiers personally, and praised their efforts in the region.

"Those soldiers were conducting operations to enhance the security of the area," Fraser said. "I had actually been in the area yesterday myself, talking with the local leaders. (They) had indicated that security had improved since we arrived in the area. "

Fraser said an investigation into the attack is underway, and pledged troops will continue striving to establish peace in the region.

"Everybody here today is sadder, but we've redoubled our efforts to make sure we provide the hope and security and stability that Afghans expect from the international community, and that the international community will provide to them," Fraser said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement praising the valour of the soldiers and the work the troops are doing in Afghanistan.

"These men were working to bring security, democracy, self-sufficiency and prosperity to the Afghan people and to protect Canadians' national and collective security. We will not forget their selfless contribution to Canada," Harper said in the statement.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and co-workers of these four brave men. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

Harper said all Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan risk their lives on a daily basis.

Eyewitness account

Richard Fitoussi, a journalist who was travelling with the convoy, described the attack to CTV Newsnet.

"There was a very loud concussion-like explosion that we felt inside the vehicle that we were in," Fitoussi said. "The convoy stopped and there was some panicky sort of suppressing gun fire. I thought for a minute that we were under small arms fire, but it was the convoy that had laid down suppressing fire as a warning to anyone that was in the surrounding hills."

Fitoussi said there was a "strange calmness" immediately after the explosion, but that it quickly turned into action and a tense sense of panic as troops assessed the damage and attempted to help the surviving soldier.

Fitoussi told CTV Newsnet he was proud to say he had become friends with one of the fallen soldiers, William Turner, during his time embedded with the troops in Gumbad.

"He was the one fellow who sort of took me under his wing as soon as I got here," Fitoussi said. "The troops are a little skeptical of journalists... but Bill Turner was a really helpful guy and was well-loved by this unit."

Sixteen Canadians, including diplomat Glyn Berry, have now lost their lives in Afghanistan since 2002.

The news comes a day after Pte. Robert Costall was honoured in a memorial service in Edmonton.

Costall, 22, of the First Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed last month during firefight with Taliban insurgents at a remote base in Afghanistan.

The military is investigating the possibility that Costall's death may have been the result of friendly fire.

There are about 2,200 Canadian soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan.

The troops are committed in the region until early next year, although Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier has warned the international community may ask for continued support until a NATO-led mission ends in 2011.

Saturday's loss comes almost four years after a friendly fire incident on April 17, 2002 that claimed the lives of four Canadians who were on a training exercise in Afghanistan.

The most recent tragedy, Galashan said, represents the largest loss of Canadian soldiers involved in combat operations since Canada fought in the Korean War.